Monday, February 13, 2017

Book Summary:
For two decades Elizabeth has been trying to escape her past which is full of painful memories. Finally, she can run from her past no more. She must confront her terrifying nightmares if she is to be able to live now.

We learn about Elizabeth's history at college with her two closest friends. Everything seems perfect for them. Without warning their whole lives change. A series of violent acts ensure that even those that survive will be changed forever. Elizabeth must face the fact she had a role in her friend's death if she will ever have normal relationships again.

My Thoughts:
This book was promoted as a thrilling mystery. I would say it is closer to fiction than mystery. The premise sounded interesting to me. A woman who has been living in denial, but is forced to face her past and the death of her friend seemed like it had a lot of potential. I think it fell a little flat for me. Mostly because it was portrayed differently than it should have been in my opinion.

I also thought that the book could have been a little shorter than it was. There were a lot of details that I really did not need to get into the story. It took me a while to read mostly because it did not hold my interest. There were parts that were really interesting, but it would lag in between.

Overall, I would say give it a try if the description interests you.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book I would not have gotten to as soon, or heard about otherwise.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Book Summary:
When we think of the American Revolution, we think of brave patriots fighting for a noble cause. It is a narrative the founding fathers encouraged after the war. Hoock argues, there is a more complex truth to the story. He claims the Revolution was not simply a battle over principles, but a violent civil war that continues to shape the American nation to this day. We read of tortured Loyalists, British troops massacring enemy soldiers and rape of local women, the forced conscription of African Americans, and Washington's genocidal campaign against the Iroquois.

Hoock is trying to bring to light a more honest approach to the American Revolution, hoping to show how it continues to impact American culture to this day.

My Thoughts:
I found the description of this book very interesting, and was very excited to read this book. I found it well written and a very interesting read. I thought there were important parts of American history presented. While the information is not all new, it brings together less savoury parts of history to let the reader make new connections and acknowledge that the violence that was an important part of American history.

I found it very intriguing to read how the Americans were very strategic in how they chose to be violent or avoid violence in certain situations knowing how it would look to citizens, making a huge difference in the outcome of the war.

I did appreciate that Hoock looked at the violence from Americans and British during the war and how each side approached violence. It is good to remember that neither side was blameless, and how they each used violent tactics or propaganda to help their cause. It was interesting to see how this shaped the outcome of the war and the future of America.

If you are looking for a different perspective on the American Revolution this is a book you should read. I highly recommend reading this book.

*I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or one I might not have heard about otherwise.

About Me

I have my BA in History, and I minored in History of Art and Museum Studies. I like to cook, travel, and read. I love to share what I am reading, and help other people find books they are interested in. I hope you find some books you like here, and will share your thoughts on the books I review.